NCJ Number
29904
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 23 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 66-70
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A GENERAL COMMENTARY ON THE PROGRESS WOMEN HAVE MADE IN THE FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE MANY FORMS OF RESISTANCE AND DISCRIMINATION THAT POLICEWOMEN STILL ENCOUNTER.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT POLICEWOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED EQUALITY WITH MALE OFFICERS IN A NUMBER OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING GREAT BRITAIN, NEW ZEALAND, GUAYANA, AND ISRAEL. STATISTICS ON FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES ARE PROVIDED. FROM THESE STATISTICS, THE AUTHOR OBSERVES THAT POLICEWOMEN ARE NOT USED TO ANY SIGNIFICANT EXTENT ON A NATIONWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT BASIS, AND THAT THEY STILL FULFILL THEIR TRADITIONAL TASKS OF JUVENILE OR CLERICAL WORK ON MOST POLICE AGENCIES. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT POLICEWOMEN ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING MOST POLICE TASKS, INCLUDING PATROL DUTY. PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC RESISTANCE, MALE OFFICER RESISTANCE, PROMOTION DISCRIMINATION, AND CHIVALROUS ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICEWOMEN ARE ALL DISCUSSED. IT IS URGED THAT WOMEN BE CONSIDERED ON THE SAME BASIS AS MEN, AND THAT THEIR PERFORMANCE BE JUDGED ON THE SAME SCALE. SINCE INSTANT TOP PERFORMANCE CANNOT BE EXPECTED FROM ALL MALE POLICE OFFICERS, THE AUTHOR STATES THAT INSTANT TOP PERFORMANCE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED FROM FEMALE OFFICERS EITHER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)